There were bright spots to be found Wednesday afternoon for Polk County’s girls basketball squad as the Wolverines held their own for the final three quarters of their first-round matchup with North Henderson in the Knights Christmas Tournament.

The good news, though, came on the heels of a scoreless first quarter, a cold stretch that allowed North Henderson to build a 15-0 lead en route to a 48-33 win over the Wolverines on the tourney’s opening day at North’s Tom Pryor Gym.

Polk County (0-9) will face Western Highlands Conference foe Madison in a consolation bracket game on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. The Patriots dropped a 50-39 decision to T.C. Roberson in their first-round game.

North Henderson (6-5) relied on its one-two senior punch of Caroline Marsh and Teegan Bullock in building its 15-point edge. Marsh had six points in the first period, including a 3-pointer just before the end of the period, and Bullock had four points.

Autumn Owen hit two free throws at the 7:02 mark of the second period for Polk’s first points, and the Wolverines suddenly came to life, reeling off 10 straight points to make it 15-10 midway through the quarter. The deficit stood at six late in the period before Marsh and Bullock scored to make it 23-13 at halftime.

Owen scored the first six points of the third quarter as the Wolverines sliced the North lead to four, but the Knights built the margin to 10 by quarter’s end and kept Polk at bay in the final quarter.

A handful of missed layups throughout the game kept the Wolverines from drawing even closer at key points, but head coach Brandy Alm was encouraged by the final three periods of play.

“Minus the first quarter, I was pleased with our effort,” Alm said.

Owen scored 16 second-half points and finished with a career-high 23 points and eight rebounds to lead Polk County, with Ansley Lynch adding six points, 11 rebounds and seven steals and Bella Marino and Ava Marino each scoring two.

-Submitted by PolkSports.com

KNIGHTS CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT GIRLS
Wednesday’s First Round
East Henderson 65, Thomas Jefferson 15
Mitchell 59, North Buncombe 34
North Henderson 48, Polk County 33
T.C. Roberson 50, Madison 39

Thursday’s Games
Thomas Jefferson vs. North Buncombe, 10 a.m.
Polk County vs. Madison, 12:30 p.m.
East Henderson vs. Mitchell, 3 p.m.
North Henderson vs. T.C. Roberson, 5:30 p.m.